ESA - Node-3 & Cupola - ISS and Europe’s Major Contributions

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Node-3, the most modern module of the ISS Cupola, ISS Observation Module Node-3 systems and internal racks STS-130 flight timeline

Technical info

Node-3 Cupola Water Recovery System Racks Oxygen Generation System Rack Air Revitalization System Waste and Hygiene Compartment T2 Colbert Treadmill advanced Resistive Exercise Device

Europe and ISS

ISS and Europe’s Major Contributions

Taking the ISS to the next level: ISS exploitation and ELIPS

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Information Kit (pdf)STS-130 Daily Activities (pdf)

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ISS and Europe’s Major Contributions

Columbus

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Lifting the European Columbus laboratory out of the Shuttle payload bay, prior to attachment to the International Space Station. Columbus was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 7 February 2008.

Credits: NASA

Node-2 and Node-3

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Node 3 is lowered toward work stand at KSC

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an overhead crane lifts the Tranquility module, or Node 3, from its shipping container. The crane will move it to a work stand. The module will be delivered to the International Space Station on the STS-130 mission. Tranquility will eventually house the life support equipment necessary for the Space Station's permanent crew of six. It will also accommodate ESA's Cupola observation module, a seven-window, dome-shaped structure. Tranquility is targeted for launch on Space Shuttle Endeavour in February 2010.

Credits: NASA

Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)

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Credits: ESA TV

European Robotic Arm (ERA)

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Artist's impression showing the European Robotic Arm (ERA) on the outside of Multi-purpose Laboratory Module (MLM) of the International Space Station. The robotic arm is moving the payload to a temporary storage location.

ERA will be able to work with the new Russian airlock, being able to transfer small payloads directly from inside to outside the ISS and vice versa. This will reduce the EVA set-up time for astronauts and allow for cooperative tasks for ERA with astronauts.

Credits: ESA - D.Ducros

Data Management System (DMS-R)

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DMS-R: ESA's Data Management System for the Russian Segment of the ISS

Cupola Observation Module

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Cupola with all windows integrated (21-04-2004)

The cupola, currently scheduled for launch in December 2009, is an observation and control tower for the ISS, with windows that will provide a panoramic view for observing and guiding operations on the outside of the station. The pressurised module will accommodate command and control workstations and other hardware, enabling crewmembers to control the station’s robotic arm - for attaching and assembling various station elements - and to communicate with other crewmembers in other parts of the station or outside during spacewalk activities. The cupola will also be used for observational applications in the areas of Earth observation and space science

Credits: ESA

Last update: 29 January 2010

Node-3 & Cupola

Node-3 and Cupola interviews A room with a view for the International Space Station: Completion of the Cupola observation module

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